A trip of a lifetime can be made so much more enjoyable by remembering a few tips. Here is the updated article incorporating expert and trending money-saving tips for UK holidaymakers visiting Florida.

Pre-Trip Planning & Tickets

 Lock in Prices Early and Use UK-Exclusive Deals

• Book Flights, Accommodation, and Tickets 6-12 months in advance to secure the best rates, especially for peak season travel.
• Theme Park Tickets: UK visitors often get exclusive multi-day tickets that are better value than those bought in the US or at the park gate (e.g., 14-Day Disney Magic Tickets or Universal Explorer Passes). These often include valuable extras like Disney’s Memory Maker (worth over $200 if bought separately) or all-day dining options at other parks.
• Deposit Schemes: Many UK-based ticket providers allow you to book your tickets with a low deposit, locking in the price with the balance due closer to your travel date.

 Pay the Right Way & Get Financial Protection

• Specialist Travel Cards: Most UK debit/credit cards charge a non-sterling transaction fee (around 3%) for purchases in US dollars. Get a specialist debit or credit card that offers fee-free spending abroad to avoid these hidden costs.
• Always Pay in Local Currency (USD): When asked whether to pay in Pounds Sterling (£) or US Dollars ($) when using your card, always choose US Dollars. Paying in Sterling allows the merchant or machine to set the exchange rate (known as Dynamic Currency Conversion), which is almost always a worse rate than your bank or card network will use.
• Credit Card Protection: For purchases over £100 (like tickets or package holiday components), pay at least a part of the deposit on a credit card for legal protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

1. Dining Out & Food

Having 3 meals a day inside the theme parks can get quite expensive.

• Renting a villa can save tons of cash as you can enjoy a meal or two at home.
• Many villa management companies can provide BBQ grills which makes for quick and easy dinner clean up.
• Expert Tip: Order Kids’ Meals/Share Portions: American portion sizes are notoriously large. Adults are often allowed to order kids’ meals for a smaller, cheaper portion, or you can often order one main meal and share it between two people for a lower cost.
• Trending Tip: Bring Your Own Drinks! All theme park restaurants will give you a free cup of ice water (tap water). Carry a refillable bottle and ask for ice water or use the many water bottle refill stations found in the parks to stay hydrated for free.

2. Grocery Shopping

• When grocery shopping after arrival remember to pick up some small juice boxes or water bottles.
• We freeze them and use them instead of an ice pack. This saves room in the carry bag.
• Many of our food wholesale clubs will offer a free pass for a day so if you are staying for a week or more this is well worth the trip.
• Wholesale clubs like BJ’s or Sam’s Club make it much less expensive when purchasing soda, liquor, meats, fruit, or breads for the week (membership fees may apply).
• You may also run into the “sample time” while shopping and get to taste the freshly cooked items they are offering!
• Trending Tip: Grocery Delivery: If you’re staying in a hotel or villa, services like Walmart, Amazon Fresh, or local grocery chains like Publix often offer delivery services, sometimes for free or a low fee, allowing you to stock up without using holiday time or paying for a taxi.

3. Afternoon Showers

• Please don’t bother with cumbersome umbrellas or expensive character style rain gear.
• The local Walmart or Dollar Tree stores sell lightweight hooded ponchos for no more than $1.00 each and are much cooler to sport in the summer months when getting caught in an afternoon shower.

4. Outlet Shoppers Beware

• Many of the designer outlets carry out of date or discontinued items.
• Yes, you may find some bargains but we have so many malls that have on going sales that you will get more for your dollar by visiting the Florida Mall or Millennia Mall.
• Expert Tip: Disney’s Character Warehouse: For genuine, but discounted, Disney merchandise, head to one of the Disney’s Character Warehouse outlets found at the Orlando Premium Outlets (Vineland and International Drive). This is the best place to find official souvenirs at a fraction of the park price.
• Always pick up a copy of the most recent Sunday Orlando Sentinel newspaper as this is filled with coupons and current specials for clothing and or food items. Well worth the $2.00 cost of the paper.

5. Chain Restaurant Dining

• When planning on an Olive Garden, Red Lobster or Steakhouse dinner out, always check on line for coupons that provide money off your bill.
• Sometimes you will be able to print a buy one meal get second 50% off coupon.
• Trending Tip: Sign Up for Mailing Lists: Sign up for the email newsletters of your favourite US chain restaurants a few weeks before your trip. They will often send welcome vouchers or special codes you can use.
• Expert Tip: Happy Hour/Lunch Specials: Take advantage of “Happy Hour” for discounted drinks and appetisers, or visit during lunch for cheaper meal specials which often have similar food to the dinner menu.

6. The Real Florida

• Theme Parks are great but how about visiting some local attractions?
• Florida has so much to offer its visitors. There are free nature trails available. Local libraries offer free children’s activities, movie showings even free movie rentals.
• Local performing art centres offer student discounts for some amazing plays or musicals.
• Trending Tip: Look for Free Entertainment: Check out Disney’s Boardwalk area or CityWalk at Universal for street performers and free atmosphere, which are great for a lower-cost evening.

7. Touring the Disney Area in Style

• Disney’s hotels offer free shuttles to and from the parks to their resorts and shopping areas.
• We like to walk around the Boardwalk hotel and take the free boat shuttle around the resorts and theme parks during the time of the nightly fireworks.
• What an amazing view and a great way to cool off sailing on the water.
• Expert Tip: Complimentary Transport: Take full advantage of the free transportation networks at Disney (buses, monorail, boats, Skyliner) and Universal (buses, boats) to avoid costly ride-share services or car park fees.

8. Famous Florida Beach Trips

• When you plan a day at one of the many beaches, some less than 90 minutes away, be sure to pick up your bucket, shovel or beach towels at the dollar stores.
• Chances are you won’t want to pack these for your trip home and will throw away. The price difference is amazing.
• Wal-Mart and Target are also great for sun screens as their store brands work just as well as the name brands.
• Try visiting Melbourne Beach where you will not have to pay to park and can access public bathrooms and showers.
• Trending Tip: Free Beaches: While some coastal parks charge an entrance fee, many world-class beaches like Clearwater Beach, Daytona Beach, and St. Augustine Beach are entirely free to access.

9. Sporting Events

• Central Florida has 2 Major League Baseball Teams.
• The Houston Astros and the Atlanta Braves host their spring training games here.
• Compare to a $60 game day ticket to $15 when they play here in March.
• Kissimmee also has a Roller Rink, Ice Skating Rink, and Bowling Alley for a rainy day or night time activity.

10. Private Vacation Villa Versus a Crowded Hotel

• The difference in renting an entire home instead of one or two hotel rooms for you vacation is eye opening.
• The monetary savings alone in renting a private Florida pool home is one advantage. This far outweighs any special hotel offer a travel agent may present.
• There is no comparison in having the privacy to enjoy a swim without the crowd in your own pool or sunbathe on your own pool deck.
• If you’re traveling with teenagers they typically get their own TV in their bedroom for their game systems in a villa while the little ones watch their own favourite shows in their bedroom.
• Immaculate kitchens and baths, comfortable beds, spacious living rooms and screen porches to enjoy the evenings after a long day at the parks are a pleasant way to vacation.
• Be sure and ask the villa’s manager for a possible complimentary late checkout on your departure day to get one last swim in before heading home!
• Trending Accommodation Hack: If you do decide to stay at Universal Resort, booking one night at one of their Premier Hotels (Loews Portofino Bay, Hard Rock, or Loews Royal Pacific) will give you and your entire party a free Universal Express Unlimited Pass for two days (arrival and departure), which can be a huge saving compared to buying the pass separately.